Author: Dick Mangrum

Pickens County has three openings in its building codes department, one of which is created by the retirement of the chief inspector. Jerald Wilson, county administrator, said this afternoon, however, the rumors are not true that his county is dismantling its building codes department—in a manner similar to what happened recently in Oconee County.

A community outreach achievement for the town of Salem. A Saturday farmers market has opened in the town, a venue from which local and area residents may sell their surplus grown produce. Marti Jennings at Town Hall says the market opened successfully last Saturday on the lot across from the fire department and will operate each Saturday morning during the […]

At their customers’ annual meeting in Oakway, the board of Pioneer Rural Water decided last night to expand the capacity of the treatment plant now under construction next to the Golden Corner Commerce Park. Originally designed to produce up to 2.5 million gallons a day, the plant will now produce 3 million gallons a day. In a report heard last […]

Overall, Oconee School District calculates that to operate another year of public education in the county will require $96.7 million dollars—80% of which is taken by personnel costs. First-term county councilman Glenn Hart, noting that the schools are asking for an extra $3.2 million in local support, posed the question last night whether the schools will ever reach a point […]

A reminder last night that, for Oconee property tax purposes, this is a re-assessment year. Scott Moulder, county administrator, announced last night that the results of the countywide re-evaluation of property tax values will hit the mail in August. The notices are not bills, but they’ll reflect any changes, such as additions or re-modeling of private property, since the last […]

Thanks to Oconee County Parks, Recreation, and Tourism and funding from the Oconee County Accommodations Tax (ATAX) three local museums are able to expand their visiting hours to better serve the public. Walhalla’s Museum of the Cherokee in South Carolina and Patriots’ Hall: Oconee Veterans’ Museum, as well as Westminster’s Oconee Heritage Center General Store Museum will now be […]

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District holds a workshop on water management and water levels at Lake Hartwell Monday, June 26 in Toccoa, Georgia. The three-hour event begins at 6 p.m.,at the Currahee campus of North Georgia Technical College. The Corps of Engineers and associated agencies will have experts and displays to discuss various aspects of water management, reservoir […]

Terry Pruitt says he’ll disclose tonight his salary covering the last 10 years as general manager of Pioneer Rural Water District. Pruitt says he is responding to a Daily Journal Freedom of Information request. The occasion tonight is the annual meeting of Pioneer Rural Water District where Pruitt says, besides his pay record, he will go on record to justify […]

An amateur astronomer in Seneca, Dennis Barnes, has announced a change in date for when he speaks at a Walhalla church about this summer’s total eclipse of the sun. Originally, Dennis Barnes planned to make a presentation June 28 at College Street Baptist Church. Because of a conflict with choir rehearsal for this year’s “God and Country Celebration,” Barnes will […]

A large crowd was seated in the Duke World of Energy auditorium for Myles Standish’s presentation on what’s ahead August 21. Standish is a former NASA scientist living in Oconee County who has experienced two total eclipses of the sun. “It’s fascinating. If you have a nice, clear sky, it really is kind of awe inspiring. All of sudden daylight […]